On Stage

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There will be plenty of great show tunes as cast members of the Bruce Ariss Wharf Theater in Monterey take to the stage this weekend for a show of Broadway favorites. The production closes on Sunday afternoon.

MPC Players presents “Without Why.” 8 p.m. Fri-Sat, 2 p.m. Sundays, Aug. 31-Sept. 23 at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts, Fourth and Guadalupe, Carmel. By John Dotson; directed by Conrad Selvig. Galileo Caviot, a 21st century urban artist, steps out one morning to encounter a world of shifting relationships and constant change. Accepting what he cannot control or understand, he resolves to go on celebrating life. His inspiration is a line of 17th-century verse that states “the rose is without why; it blooms because it blooms.” Tickets at 372-3793. Information: 626-6796.

Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Four plays in repertory this season: Samuel Beckett”s “Endgame,” John Millington Synge”s “Playboy of the Western World” and William Shakespeare”s “Much Ado About Nothing” and “The Tempest” at the Sinsheimer/Stanley Festival Glen and Theater Arts Mainstage on the campus of University of California-Santa Cruz through Sept. 2. Tickets are $28 to $40 reserved; $26 to $36 general admission. Various discounts and special events apply. Schedule of productions at 459-2159 or www.shakespearesantacruz.org.

CONTINUING

· THROUGH SEPT. 8

The Western Stage”s “I Love You, You”re Perfect, Now Change.” 8 p.m. Fri-Sat and 2 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 8 at the Main Stage, Hartnell College, 156 Homestead Ave., Salinas. A tour of romantic relationships, from dating to marriage to childbirth and, to the inevitable death of a spouse. Book and lyrics by Joe Dipietro; music by Jimmy Roberts. $30 general/$20 seniors, juniors, military. There will be special performances of the production at 8 p.m. Fri-Sat, Sept. 14-15 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16 at the Sunset Center, Ninth and San Carlos, Carmel. Friday and Sunday tickets are $30 general/$20 seniors, juniors, military. Saturday, Sept. 15 is a gala performance. $75 includes reception, intermission dessert and the silent auction/$30 for show and auction/$50 for reception and auction. Proceeds benefit the Western Stage scholarship fund. 375-2111, www.westernstage.com.

· THROUGH SEPT. 16

El Teatro Campesino”s “Zoot Suit.” 8 p.m. Thu-Fri, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 16 at 705 Fourth St., San Juan Bautista. Drawn from actual transcripts, documents, and newspaper articles of the 1940s, “Zoot Suit” re-creates historical events of the Sleepy Lagoon murder case that railroaded young Chicano pachucos or zoot suiters who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Playwright Luis Valdez synthesizes fact and fiction using the case to examine Chicano Zoot Suit culture, prejudice and the role of the media in the judicial system. Pulsing with the beat of the 1940s Big Band music and traditional Latin songs. Kinan Valdez directs. $30 reserved/$25 general/$22 for seniors and students/$18 for ages 12 and under. 623-2444, www.elteatrocampesino.com.

PacRep Theatre”s “Macbeth.” 7:30 p.m. Fri-Sat and 2 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 1. Additional performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13; 2 p.m. Saturdays, Sept. 8-29 and Oct. 6 and Oct. 13; 2 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 30, Oct. 7 and Oct. 14 in the Circle Theatre at the Golden Bough Theatre at Casanova between Eighth and Ninth, Carmel. In repertory with “Mary Stuart” (previews Sept. 7; opens Sept. 8) and “A Midsummer Night”s Dream” (opens Sept. 29). In director Kenneth Kelleher”s nine-actor, 100-minute adaptation, bloody daggers, witches and ghosts haunt Macbeth (Stephen Moorer) and his lady (Julie Hughett), as they play out their destiny, unable to control their future or contain their lust for power. Macbeth offers frightening and astonishing insights into the human passion for political and military power, as well as the consequences of corrupting ambition unchecked by morality or conscience. Part of PacRep”s 18th annual Shake-speare Festival. General admission tickets are $20-$38 with discounts for seniors (65+), military, students and teachers. 622-0100, www.pacrep.org.

COMING UP

· SEPT. 7-23

Pacific Repertory Theatre presents “Mary Stuart” as part of the 18th annual Carmel Shake-speare Festival. Previews at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7; opens at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8 and continues at 7:30 p.m. Fri-Sat and 2 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 23 at the Golden Bough Theatre, Monte Verde between Eighth and Ninth avenues, Carmel. This new adaptation by Peter Oswald is filled with the passions of the flesh, the spirit and the stage — all culminating in a battle of wills between two cousin-queens. Kenneth Keller directs. In repertory with “Macbeth” and “A Midsummer Night”s Dream,” (opens Sept. 29). Discounted preview. General admission tickets are $20-$38 with discounts for seniors (65+), military, students and teachers. 622-0100, www.pacrep.org.

· SEPT. 7-30

The Western Stage presents “The Hostage.” 8 p.m. Fri-Sat and 2 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 7-30 at the Studio Theater, Hartnell College, 156 Homestead Ave., Salinas. A British soldier is held hostage in a rowdy brothel until the British government agrees to release a member of the IRA who is slated to be hanged the following morning. A tragic-comic farce that tackles the still burningly relevant issues of terrorism, warfare and colonialism. $20 general/$17 seniors, military, students. 755-6816, 375-2111, www.westernstage.com.

· SEPT. 13-OCT. 31

The Paper Wing Theatre Company”s “The Rocky Horror Show” starring Lj Brewer. 8 p.m. Thu-Fri; 8 p.m. and midnight on Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 13-Oct.. 31 at 320 Hoffman Ave., Monterey. There will be shows at 8 p.m. and midnight on Wednesday, Oct. 31. On the way to visit an old college professor, two clean-cut youth, Brad Majors and his fiancee Janet Weiss, run into tire trouble and seek help at the site of a light down the road. It”s coming from the Frankenstein place, where Dr. Frank N Furter, an alien from the planet Transexual in the galaxy of Transylvania, is in the midst of one of his maniacal experiments— he”s created the perfect man. A rippling piece of beefcake christened Rocky Horror, the doctor intends to put him to good use in his household, presided over by a hunchback henchman named Riff Raff and his sister Magenta and assisted by a tap dancing groupie-in-residence, Columbia. Tickets: 675-0521, www.paperwingtheatreco.com.

· SEPT. 28-OCT. 14

Pacific Repertory Theatre opens “A Midsummer Night”s Dream” as part of the 18th annual Carmel Shake-speare Festival. Previews at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28; opens at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29 and continues at 7:30 p.m. Thu-Sun at the outdoor Forest Theater, Mountain View and Santa Rita, Carmel. With flying effects by ZFX of Las Vegas, the production will be an adventure of star-crossed lovers, warring faeries and local craftsmen rehearsing a tragedy, all hopelessly entangled in a mix of fantasy, humor, role reversals and the complications of true love. In repertory with “Macbeth.” Discounted preview. General admission tickets are $20-$38 with discounts for seniors (65+), military, students and teachers. 622-0100, www.pacrep.org.

· SEPT. 29-30

Play it by Ear Productions presents “Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear.” 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30 at The Works, 667 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. A series of old time radio re-creations with an encore performance of the Marx Brothers radio show “Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel!” $5 at the door. 372-2242.

The Western Stage presents “ThreePenny Opera.” 8 p.m. Fri-Sat and 2 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 19-Nov. 11 at the Studio Theater, Hartnell College, 156 Homestead Ave., Salinas. The nefarious thief and murderer Mack the Knife just got married and his sinister in-laws want his head. With an inventive score, which was influenced by American jazz and 1920s German cabaret. $30 general/$20 seniors, military and students. 755-6816, 375-2111, www.westernstage.com.

· NOV. 10-DEC. 8

The Western Stage presents “South Pacific.” 8 p.m. Fri-Sat and 2 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 10-Dec. 8 at the Main Stage, Hartnell College, 156 Homestead Ave., Salinas. Set on a South Pacific island against the backdrop of World War II, Emile de Becque, a middle-aged French plantation owner and Ensign Nellie Forbush, a Navy nurse, fall in love only to have their impending marriage derailed when Nellie discovers that her fianc?e has fathered two children with a Polynesian girl. $30 general/$20 seniors, military and students. 755-6816, 375-2111, www.westernstage.com.

· NOV. 21-DEC. 30

Pacific Repertory Theatre presents “The Full Monty” as part of the 18th annual Carmel Shake-speare Festival. Previews at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21 and Friday, Nov. 23 at the Golden Bough Theatre, Monte Verde between Eighth and Ninth in Carmel. Opens at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24 and continues at 7:30 p.m. Thu-Sat and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 30. Six unemployed steel workers hatch a desperate plan to get their lives back — a plan that requires them to triumph over their fears, their nerves and their clothes. General admission tickets are $20-$38 with discounts for seniors (65+), military, students and teachers. 622-0100, www.pacrep.org. There will be a special New Year”s Eve bash with desserts, Champagne and dancing at 8:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31.

Open auditions for “The Good Woman” by Bertolt Brecht. 7-10 p.m. Thu-Fri, Aug. 30-31 at the Music Hall, Bldg. 30, CSU-Monterey Bay. For a map of campus and driving directions, visit csumb.edu/map. Directed by Professor Will Shephard. Actors, rappers, DJs and dancers are needed. 582-4511.

· THROUGH NOV. 14

PacRep Theatre”s School of Dramatic Arts (SoDA). Now registering students for its fall session through Nov. 14. New this year is Baby Toddler Music Play for parents and children ages 0-3 years led by award-winning children”s music specialist, MaryLee Sunseri. SoDA courses also include: Sing Dance Act!, Let”s Put On A Play, Tune In Tomorrow (radio play), Pre-Musical Theatre, Stage Combat Choreography, Advanced Theatre for Teens, Acting Shakespeare and Production Playwriting. Information: Maryann Rousseau at 656-9730 or www.pacrep.org/SoDA.htm.

· ONGOING

Hartnell College Theatre Arts Department is accepting students for its series of workshops and classes. Whether you”re new to theater or a seasoned performer, there are opportunities to develop your skills under the guidance of a team of professional actors and directors. For ages 9-13. For more information call Melissa Chin Parker at 755-6987, 755-6988, www.westernstage.org.